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Be A Meat-Eater

Today’s Text: Hebrews 5:14 (ESV) But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Even though I have not been able to write any devotionals lately, I was challenged to take a couple of minutes this morning and share with you another of Ron Hutchcraft’s devotionals that I listen to on WHEM Radio in the mornings. Today’s was especially appropriate, and here’s why.

I have been struggling all week with the story of Jesus casting demons out of two men and allowing them to enter a herd of pigs resulting in all the pigs being destroyed. I’m having trouble because recently I’ve been told that my Sunday sermons are too long and too deep, and that I need to keep them shorter and simpler. There is validity to that, and last Sunday was a perfect example of how people respond when that happens. But can I do it two weeks in a row when faced with the deep issues of Christ’s revelation of His power over all spiritual authorities?

So today, on A Word With You, Ron spoke this right to my heart, and hopefully to yours also:

If you ever saw my oldest son eat a hamburger, you’d see how quickly it disappears. I’m sure that you would find it hard to believe that there was a time when he was actually too young to eat one. Yes, but we have the movies at home to prove it! We’ve got these old Super 8 movies. Well, not now; we’ve, of course, made them something more current. But there’s this little baby eating this mush that only babies eat. He didn’t have any equipment to chew a hamburger with then. So we’d feed him this smooth, beaten-to-death version of the real thing – no chewing, no effort, it just kind of slides right on down. Now he has to work harder on it these days, like when you’re eating a steak. But he seems to have no desire to go back to the good old days of baby food. The best food will require some effort, but it’s worth it.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Lazy Eaters.”

Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Hebrews chapter 5, and it’s about lazy eaters. I’m beginning at verse 11. The writer says, “We have so much to say to you, but it’s hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need somebody to teach you the elementary truth of God’s Word all over again. You need milk, not solid food. Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

Now, the writer of Hebrews is writing to some Christians who insisted on food that didn’t demand much of you. In this case, milk. They were lazy eaters. Well, that kind of laziness is all too common among a lot of North American Christians I’m afraid; the most entertained Christians in history. We’re so spoiled by our radio preachers, our TV shows, our seminars, our Christian celebrities. We want our sermons to be funny, and exciting, and always red-hot challenging. We want our speakers to be entertainers. We expect our teachers to be brief, to the point. How dare they talk too long! And we want our pastor to chop up our food for us and give it to us Gerber-ized. We like melt-in-your-mouth messages that don’t take a lot of effort.

Well, there are a few very gifted pastors or speakers who do 80% of the chewing for you. All you have to do is meet them maybe 20% of the way; you don’t have to put a lot of effort into it. But most of God’s messengers require careful attention from you, a determination to follow along with them, a willingness to make your own applications and connections.

There are some people who have a lot to say from the Lord, but they require you to come maybe 40-50-70% of the way. There are writers like that. You say, “This is hard to read.” But it’s worth sticking with it; it’s worth chewing. See, a spiritual leader doesn’t have to be funny or have a ton of charisma in order to feed you God’s Word. He doesn’t have to be some famous preacher or TV celebrity. God has put you under the teaching care of someone who loves God and cares about you; one of his servants. Don’t expect that leader, that pastor, that teacher, that writer to do all the chewing for you. Give your God-appointed teachers your very best.

When you listen to them, go prepared to chew, to work for your good meal. You’re too big for baby food. Lazy eaters never grow up. So, don’t be too lazy to chew a good piece of meat.

Come prepared for a full course dinner of meat and potatoes on Sunday.

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2 thoughts on “Be A Meat-Eater”

Pastor John, I encourage you to keep on as you have been. Those who want their ears tickled or want a show will either grow up or move on. You stick to sharing whatever God lays on your heart and let Him do the rest. He is winnowing out the chaff and getting ready for the harvest. Stay strong, give God your best and He will give you His peace.

I agree with the previous poster. I think it is dangerous ground as soon as you start catering to people’s wants and preferences. The truth is, a statement like that (length of services) speaks truth about where that person’s heart is. The world has enough seeker-sensitive churches who cater to the culture and the desires of man. It all comes at a cost. Preach Christ, preach repentance. Its not about the number of people coming to church, its about the Gospel transforming lives.